Wills for Heroes (WFH) is a program under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, with the support of the PBA Pro Bono Office. The PBA Wills for Heroes program now solely sponsors WFH in Pennsylvania with the Dec. 31, 2023, closing of the National WFH Foundation. The PBA will continue to provide free basic estate planning for first responders, veterans and essential pandemic personnel. The program provides Wills, Living Wills, Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney to eligible first responders and military veterans and their spouses/partners.

Programs are staffed by lawyers and other volunteers and are offered to heroes at convenient community sites. Most events occur on Saturdays in the fall or spring. Events usually run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM free mandatory volunteer training is provided, often for 2 CLE credits (1 ethics, 1 substantive). Following the training, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM., volunteers will provide estate planning for first responders and veterans.

Upcoming Events include:

• March 2, 2024 – Dauphin County, Widener Commonwealth School of Law
• March 9, 2024 – Bucks County, Bucks County Community College
• March 16, 2024 – Lycoming County, Williamsport
• March 23, 2024 – Adams County, Gettysburg – PSP Private Event
• March 23, 2024 – Lancaster County – Details TBA at later date
• April 6, 2024 – Centre County – Details TBA at later date
• April 13, 2024 – Cumberland County, Hampden Township – Details TBA at later date
• April 13, 2024 – Monroe County,Stroudsburg
• April 20, 2024 – Blair County – Details TBA at later date
• April 27, 2024 – Susquehanna County, Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains – Details TBA at later date
• May 4, 2024 – Luzerne County – Details TBA at later date
• May 11, 2024 – Bucks County, Falls Township American Legion
• June 15, 2024 – Cumberland County, Mechanicsburg (PBI) – Details TBA at later date
• June 22, 2024 – Bucks County, Lower Southampton Fire Department
• September 14, 2024 – Bucks County, Bucks County Bar Association

Information for Volunteers:

Information and online registration for volunteers can be found at https://www.pabar.org/site/For-the-Public/Wills-for-Heroes/Volunteer.

For more information about Wills for Heroes and individual events, visit https://www.pabar.org/site/For-Public/Wills-for-Heroes or contact the YLD or one of the Pennsylvania program directors, Paul Edger or Hannah Suhr.